Hamilton will be distributing $50 and $100 gift cards to eligible people on a first-come, first-served basis from Jan. 7 to 9.

People will need to provide proper identification, have an income that falls below the Low Income Cut-off, and were without power for more than two days.

The grocery store gift cards will be available beginning at 9 a.m. Jan 7 at Ontario Works offices located at 2255 Barton Street East, and1550 Upper James Street, at Huntington Park Recreation Centre at 87 Brentwood Drive, and the Flamborough Municipal Service Centre at 7 Innovation Drive. Depending upon how long the number of cards hold out, they will be offered also on Jan. 8 and 9.

The provincial government is providing $450,000 worth of cards to communities, including Hamilton, that were impacted by the pre-Christmas ice storm.Hamilton will be receiving 450 cards, say city officials for the estimated number of people who qualify.

During the Dec. 21 ice storm, about 7,000 households lost power for more than two days, while about 30,000 households had no power.

The cards are available to assist people who lost food and are unable to replace it without financial assistance. Provincial officials say not all people who are eligible will receive a card, but are provided for those households most in need. Single people will receive $50 cards, while a household will get a $100 card.

The province has already distributed over $840,000 in grocery cards, assisting over 8,500 families. But during the three days when the cards will handed out atToronto-area

Among the donors to the program are Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobey’s and various unions. The corporate donations are being matched by the province.

Ontario Works offices, many people didn’t receive them leaving them angry and fed up.

For more information call 905-546-2489, or email ontarioworks@hamilton.ca.

One Response to “Hamilton offering food cards to needy”

As much as this is going to get taken the wrong way, I don’t understand how households lost food.
Your freezer is not working, put your food outside…it will stay frozen in the “polar vortex”
A cooler filled with snow works well for a fridge.
Been there, done that.

Gestures to help those in need are great; I just think this money would have been better used at shelters and food banks. I see this gesture as more of a political move and not a genuine act of kindness.